Food Import Compliance Agreements (FICA)

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​​​​​​​Food importers may enter into a Food Import Compliance Agreement, known as a FICA, with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (the department) under the
Imported Food Control Act 1992.

Many food importers have documented food management systems for sourcing and importing food. Under a FICA these systems may be recognised, offering an alternative to the routine inspection and testing of food products under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS). The
FICA frequently asked questions web page provides information about compliance agreements for importing food.

Food products imported under a FICA are not subject to potential delay and costs associated with inspection and testing under the IFIS. Instead, food products imported under a FICA are handled by the importer’s food management system which is audited by the department. Compliant importers are audited on an annual basis with the audit frequency dependant upon previous audit performance. More information about FICA auditing is available in the FICA audit regime.

All goods imported into Australia, including food imported under a FICA, are subject to Australian biosecurity requirements in accordance with the
Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation.

The following table lists some of the importers who are currently operating under a FICA.

The food safety and compliance system criteria include requirements for manufacturer assurance, food safety assessment, traceability and verification. Further information about the requirements for a FICA can be found in the
FICA requirements guide.

FICA application process

A completed
FICA application form​ is required to be submitted, along with an application levy if the importer is not operating under an existing department arrangement. Additional fee for service charges are applied to cover the cost of an assessment of the applicant including a desk audit and an initial site audit to determine suitability to enter into a FICA with the Commonwealth. Further information about charges is available in the department’s
charging guidelines.

Suitability assessment for FICA applicants

As part of the FICA application process, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources will review information to determine the suitability of all listed persons who are in management and control of the FICA.

If you are already operating an Approved Arrangement under the
Biosecurity Act 2015, for those staff that have met the fit and proper test there is no requirement to complete this again. However, any additional staff that have responsibility for management and control under the FICA will be required to be assessed.

The FICA application form contains a self-assessment checklist. The self-assessment must be completed by linking the relevant section of the importer’s food management system to the corresponding requirement in the FICA document.

On receipt of a completed FICA application form, we check the importer’s history of compliance, including a review of:

the importer’s record of compliance under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS)

the importer’s compliance with other department areas, such as Approved Arrangements and Export Registration

the importer’s payment history and any outstanding debt to the Commonwealth.

If the compliance checks are acceptable, we will conduct a desk audit of the importer’s food management system. We then conduct an audit at the nominated primary warehouse location to verify that the documented food management system is effectively implemented and satisfactorily addresses the requirements for an FICA.

A FICA is implemented through a
compliance agreement with the Commonwealth which upon successful assessment, commences after the signing of the agreement by both parties and payment of the annual levy, if applicable.